The interview contained questions on maternal social support and abusive behavior. Social support measures included daily psychological support, daily instrumental support, and crisis psychological support. After the interview, the medical record of the child was checked for information about child abuse and neglect. Data from the interview and the medical record were used to characterize mothers as low or high in child abuse and neglect. Comparisons between both groups of mothers indicated only certain social support indexes distinguished mothers with low and high child abuse and neglect. Specifically, kin and instrumental support indexes were associated with child abuse and neglect, whereas non-kin and psychological support variables were not. Limitations of the study findings are noted. 16 references, 1 table, and 1 figure